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Because clearly, that’s what I was about to do

I walk into the bedroo it to his collar and sliding silently fro to the edge of the ay to a patch of grass

I keep un at a ht as Sparky walks in s the best place to pee

“What the hell a to do, boy?” I whisper

He tilts his head up at me

“I want her, that’s the daodda hell, Spark, I just know I’ to have to claionna feel the sa crazy, eh?”

Sparky does his business and then pads over toathiainst my chest

“I know, boy,” I say quietly,so indecisive, are you? I guess I should be oons But you wanna know the fucked up thing, boy? Part ofme to spend more time with Dakota I can’t leave her now, can I? I can’t let anything happen to her”

I carry Sparky back to the roo hi softly

I rarely dreah my mind knows better than to stray to the locked corners of my consciousness

But this evening – thisatop a throne of glorious gold with floating angels dancing aroundand , cures me

I find etting sweeter and sweeter

Then so up to find Sparky perched onhi sleep from my eyes

I listen, head tilted

The singing is still there even ical and beautiful now than it was in the dream

I stand up and walk toward the door to Dakota’s roo to her voice, wavering and dancing in the air

“There was a songbird,” she sings “And its na, and baby, baby, this one’s for you … A songbird, a songbird, and yet inside bird, but your heart is still black as coal”

“Beautiful,” I growl

“Huh?” Dakota says, far closer to the door than I judged

My appreciation for her singing has messed with my hunter’s instincts for distance

“Beautiful,” I say, louder